Saturday, July 22, 2017

Benefits of Whisky or Scotch for Athletes and Sports Professionals

Did you know that whiskey is Gaelic for 'water of life'? This is a true story. Athletes should avoid alcohol. It dehydrates your body, gets in the way of recovery and adds stress to normal bodily processes. That being said: if you are going to drink; whisky (or scotch) might be your best bet.

Difference between whisky and scotch

All scotch is whisky, but not all whiskey is scotch. Scotch is a type of whiskey which is made of grains or malt (germinated grains). It is also made in Scotland (just like champagne can only be made in the French town of the same name. If it not made there, it is simply sparkling wine.)

Benefit of whiskey 2: Healthy brain function

Shocking whiskey benefits by Natural ON says that it supports healthy brain function. It quotes a study that found that moderate whiskey consumption decreased the risk of developing a variety of forms of Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Whiskey contains anti-oxidants that help improve brain health. It also boosts blood circulation. The combination of these two effects are said to improve brain function. This goes beyond disease prevention. Evidently, it also increases memory. The ethanol also assists with neuron operation.

Benefit of whiskey 3: Healthy heart function

Whisky can reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks among people who drink it moderately. It does this by preventing cholesterol accumulation, by removing excess cholesterol. It relaxes the artery walls, allowing for them to contract and expand more easily. It also reduces the risk of blood clots. It thins your blood as well.

Benefit of whisky 4: Stress relief

Baba Mail's article on why whisky can be good for you states that it helps to relieve stress. This makes perfect sense 💃💃💃💃💃. It decreases mental stress by helping you to cope with mental strain. It also calms the nerves. It relaxes the nerves in your body along with the ones in your brain. This relaxing effect might help to momentarily alleviate internal stresses and give the body a chance to recover. One of the ways it does this is by slowing down brain function and increasing circulation. This leads to feelings of peace and tranquility. Many have a little whiskey before bed if they struggle with anxiety to help them relax.

Benefit of whisky 6: Helps combat cancer

Whisky has high amounts of ellagic acid. Ellagic acid is a powerful anti-oxidant. This anti-oxidant helps to fight cancer by disrupting contact with compounds that bring on cancer. Studies have also shown that it helps to protect the body from the damage that chemotherapy inflicts. It neutralizes those pro-cancer free radicals. Whiskey has more anti-oxidants than red wine.

Benefit of whiskey 7: Aids digestion

It has been used for centuries as a digestive aid, and a shot of whiskey after a heavy meal can help your body break down the nutrients.

Benefit of whisky 8: Suppresses appetite

The alcohol in whiskey makes it an effective appetite suppressant.

Benefits of whiskey 9: It helps you to live longer

Largely due to its high anti-oxidant content, whiskey helps to slow down the ageing process.

Benefits of whisky 10: Safer for diabetics

Since the carbohydrate level is so low (if any), it won't affect blood sugar levels in people who are very sensitive to slight blood sugar changes. According to Wide Open Country, alcohol is not recommended to people with diabetes but studies show that whiskey assists with insulin regulation (through long term, regular and moderate consumption). It also warns, however, that heavy drinking will increase our risk of diabetic development and progression.

The benefits above do not warrant alcohol consumption. You can get all of these benefits and more from exercise and following a healthy diet alone, without the need for alcohol. This post was intended to educate people on the best alternative for them when choosing which alcoholic beverage to drink. STAY STRONG!

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About Me

I love gym, bodybuilding, exercise and health. I want there to more opportunities out there for South African bodybuilders. I want this sport to be well known in SA. I want it be easier for people to make good livings doing what they enjoy. I wish I could really contribute to this industry... but one day at a time :-)